Over 35 Surfrider Chapters participated in Hands Across the Sand events across the country on Saturday, May 19th, joining thousands of activists around the world in saying NO to offshore drilling and dirty fuels and YES to clean energy!

A grassroots event founded by Surfrider member Dave Rauschkolb in Florida, Hands Across the Sand brings people together to oppose new offshore drilling and other dirty fuel proposals. Participants form "human lines in the sand" by joining hands at their local beach or park to send a message to government leaders. This is the eigth year that supporters across the world have taken action.

The Surfrider Foundation served as an official sponsor of the 2018 event as part of our Stop New Offshore Drilling campaign. Other sponsors included: Oceana, Sierra Club, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Gulf Restoration Network, Redfin, Center for Biological Diversity, Earth Ethics, Chart 411, Urban Paradise Guild, and All Things Healing.

With the Trump administration pushing for a dramatic expansion of offshore drilling to over 90% of U.S. waters, and current proposals to use harmful seismic blasting in the Atlantic, Hands Across the Sand participants showed President Trump, Congress, and state legislatures the breadth of opposition to new offshore drilling, fracking, and seismic blasting, and instead, advocated for a clean energy future.

Florida - Chapters along the Florida Coast rallied to protect their coastline from new offshore drilling, hosting events at Daytona Beach, Jupiter, Melbourne, Miami Beach, Pompano Beach, Indian Beach, and Pensacola. Key speakers include Senator Bill Nelson, Congressman Charlie Crist, and members of local school boards, county commissioners, and more (photos/ article).

South Atlantic - The Tybee Island Chapter in GA (article/ article), Cape Fear (photos/ video/ article) and Outer Banks Chapters (article) in NC, and Myrtle Beach Chapter in SC all hosted events to protect their coastline from new drilling.